Join Rachel Hedman as she continues beyond the world premiere storytelling feast for the senses that occurred February 9, 2009. Through the years, discover the story development and marketing process. Family life can starve when fed abuse and abandonment with stories that gnaw at the stomach. Then Rachel shares the feast of patience, humor and love through multicultural tales mixed with song and personal reflection. You are welcome to the table.

2-DVD set from Premiere, shipped/received within 1-2 weeks
***Audio commentary, closed-captioning, and ASL features--$20.00 (includes shipping)
Support creation of BSA storytelling merit badge and join groups on Facebook or on Ning.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

On September 10, 2008 I finally created an account with Twitter, a social online tool. This could be an exercise for storytellers to test their skills in being concise. You are limited to 140 characters (notice characters and NOT words) per post.

How would each story in my repertoire look if it was condensed to 140 characters? This may be a little longer than the one-liner found inside the cover of books above the ISBN number.

Telling the story aloud and condensing within a five-minute, three-minute, or one-minute frame seems easy compared to only having 140 characters to write that same piece.

President Thomas S. Monson, 16th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shared how in the 1960s during the Vietnam war, Jay Hess became captured in Hanoi after his plane was shot down. Brother Hess had not seen his family for over two years and was uncertain when he'd see his family again.

He had only 25 words to send a message and this is what he chose to write--"These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college, press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year."

What would you write to your family?

Now, what if you only had two characters?

This question is easy for me: 88.

My parents are both ham radio operators and "88" was something they could tell each other over the airwaves as "88" meant "hugs and kisses". Another way to express "I love you". These characters look a lot like the "xo" that many people place on birthday cards to wish the same thing. It's easy to see why "88" came to equal "xo".

This blog, or parts thereof, may not be produced or presented in any form by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, scanning, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Rachel Hedman. Contact her at info@rachelhedman.com.